Who Are We

So, I have been thinking a lot lately about who I am. Am I the person that I was in high school – somewhat boy crazy, attention-loving, do my own thing, not care what people thought person? Am I the person I was in college – crazy, fun-loving, somewhat out of control person? Am I the person I am now – settled, working wife and mother, trying to do what is right? Or would I even be the person I am now without the past?

I have been talking to some old friends that I haven’t talked to in years. And some of those friends and I parted on not great terms. Yet I want so much for them to know that I am not the same person I was back then. I am so much more sensitive to the feelings of others. Regardless of the fact that I am self-confident, I still wonder what people think about me and want people to like me.

This book I have been reading has really got me to thinking about being the person we claim to be. One of his comments is “Do I want social justice for the oppressed, or do I just want to be known as a socially active person?” Hmmm.

And then I start thinking about authenticity. Which is better – to live a life of apparent “holiness” or to live an authentic life that may fall short of holiness? For me, I think I would rather that people saw me as an authentic person who struggles to live a life that is pleasing to God. It’s hard to be good all the time. We were created for good, but it doesn’t come naturally because of the fall.